Jacksonville Civic Council urges voters to renew one-mill tax for DCPS teachers

The Jacksonville Civic Council is urging Duval County voters to renew a property tax that funds teacher pay, saying the money helps the school district attract and retain educators.RELATED: Duval County educators, parents discuss one-mill school tax renewalThe council urged voters to vote “yes” on the county referendum to extend the one-mill tax, which voters first approved in 2022. The tax is not new; the November vote will decide whether to continue it for another four years.Since the levy took effect, Duval County Public Schools has used the funding to offer more competitive teacher salaries, the council said. It said the funding has helped fill classroom vacancies and retain qualified educators.If voters reject the renewal, teacher pay would decrease by an average of $8,500 a year, according to the council. The district has said the tax provides teachers with an $8,600 annual bonus.The council also pointed to the district’s two consecutive A ratings from the state and rising gradua